Toggle switch guard



Sept. s 1970 E. A. SPACEK 3,527,914

TOGGLE SWITCH GUARD Filed `MBJGh 5, 1969 /a .3g- I f2 /z/ ya* l f4 /J@www United States Patent O V 3,527,914 TOGGLE SWITCH GUARD Edward A.Spacek, 215-12 24th Ave., Bayside, N.Y. 11360 Filed Mar. 3, 1969, Ser.No. 803,894 Int. Cl. H01h 9/02 U.S. Cl. 200-168 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A guard for a toggle switch which occupies a protectiveposition about the switch member so as to minimize inadvertent actuationof the switch member without, at the same time, rendering the switchmember unduly inaccessible for switching operation.

The present invention relates generally to a toggle switch guard, andmore particularly to a guard adapted to be readily and effectivelyassembled to this type of switch so as to minimize inadvertent actuationof the switch.

As generally understood, a toggle switch includes a switch memberhavinga projected position from the housing of the electrical contactsand is adapted to be moved between on-oif switching positions. While'switches are generally subject to inadvertent actuation, a toggleSwitch is particularly prone to this disadvantageous occurrence.Moreover, in providing a guard about the switch vlmember in order tominimize inadvertent striking of the switch it is necessary that theprotective guard does not at the same time unduly complicate andinterfere with accessibility of the switch member since this woulddefeat one of the primary reasons for using a toggle switch which isnoted for the ease in which it is operated. Additionally, it isnecessary that the assembly of the guard to the switch be as simple aspossible and yet this assembly be sufficiently rm to withstand vibrationif the switch is an integral part of a motor or other such apparatuswhich during normal operation is characterized by considerablevibration. Presently known guards for toggle switches and similar suchswitches fail to satisfy all of these commercial requirements.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedtoggle switch guard overcoming the foregoing and other shortcomings ofthe prior art. Specifically, it is an object to provide an improvedguard for a toggle switch which is simple in its construction, easilyassembled to the switch and which, once firmly assembled, remains inthis condition despite even excessive vibration.

A toggle switch guard demonstrating objects and advantages of thepresent invention has a concavely shaped base which during attachment tothe switch housing is ilattened against the housing with the result thatforces are induced to hold the base firmly to the switch housing despiteexcessive vibration. Additionally, formed as an integral part of thebase is an upstanding, generally semicircular wall which cooperates withthe base to dene a protective compartment into the switch member of thetoggle switch is projected during assembly of the guard to the switch.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features andadvantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated byreference to the following detailed description of a presentlypreferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance withthe present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. l is an exploded perspective view of a switch guard according tothe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an isolated side elevational view of the guard;

V ice FIG. 3 is a side elevational view illustrating the guard in itsassembled condition to the switch; and

FIG. 4 is an elevational view, in section taken on line 4 4 of FIG. 3,illustrating further structural details.

Reference is now made to the drawings wherein there is shown a switchguard, generally designated 10, demonstrating objects and advantages ofthe present invention. Switch guard 10 includes two major components: aswitch, generally designated 12, which preferably is a so-called toggleswitch and a guard 14 which, when assembled to the switch 12, all aswill be described in greater detail subsequently herein, is effective inminimizing inadvertent actuation of the switch 12. In achieving thisfunction of minimizing inadvertent actuation of the switch 12, the guard14 nevertheless does not make it inconvenient to gain access to and tooperate the switch 12.

As generally understood, switch 12 includes a housing 16 for the usualelectrical contacts and has extending from an upper wall 18, whichserves as a support for the guard 14, a switch member 20 operativelyarranged for switching movement between on-otf switching positions. Themember 20 additionally has an externally threaded base 22.

The switch guard 14 is preferably fabricated of a springlike metal andincludes a concavely curved lower wall or base 24 having an opening 26located centrally therein of a sutlicient extent to accommodate thethreaded base 22 in a projected position therethrough. Formed integrallywith the base 24 is an upstanding, generally semicircular shaped wall28, the inner surface 30 of which cooperates with the inner surface 32of the base 24 to define a protective chamber or compartment 34 for theswitch member 20. While affording this protection to the switch member20, however, compartment 34 has side access openings 36 through whichthe switch member 20 can be grasped and actuated through switchingmovement. On the other hand, inadvertent actuation of the switch member20, as may be caused by the brushing of a shoulder of a passerby againstthe switch member 20 is significantly minimized by the assembly of theswitch guard l14 to the switch 12 with the switch member 20 within theprotective compartment 34.

In assembling the guard 14 on the switch 12 the switch member 20 and thethreaded base 22 is projected through the previously noted opening 26.This is effective in positioning the concave shaped base 32 against thesubstantially flat wall 18 of the housing 16. Next, a nut 38 having athreaded central opening 40 is threadably engaged with the threaded base22 and tightened thereon such that the concavely shaped base 32 isflattened against the smooth or planar wall 18, all as is clearlyillustrated in FIGS. 3, 4. This flattening or flexing induced in thebase 32 is effective in inducing a force urgency in the base in -muchthe same way that similar forces are induced in lock washers and iseffective in holding the guard 14 rmly in its mounted position on theswitch 12 despite vibration in the motor or other apparatus which switch12 may be an integral part of.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in theforegoing disclosure and in some instances some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch guard for a switch member having a projected position from asupport and operatively arranged for switching movement betweenoperative on-oi switching positions, said switch guard comprising abase, an upstanding wall connected in a clearance position from saidbase having an internal surface cooperating with said base to bound aprotective compartment with side openings for said switch member, andconnecting means for mounting said base to said support with said switchmember extending into said protective compartment, whereby inadvertentactuation of said switch member is minimized while access theretopreparatory to intended actuation therof is possible through said sideopenings.

2. A switch guard as defined in claim 1 wherein said base is constructedof a flexible material and has a concave shape relative to said support,and said connecting means is operatively effective in the completion ofsaid connection of said base to said support to cause exing in said baseincident to the flattening of said concave shape of said base againstsaid support, whereby said flexing induces holding forces between saidbase and said support which minimizes the loosening of the connectiontherebetween due to vibration.

3. A switch guard as defined in claim 2 wherein said upstanding wall isgenerally semicircular in shape.

4. A switch guard as defined in claim 3 wherein said switch memberincludes a threaded base having an operative projected position throughan opening in said base,

and said connecting means is a nut adapted to be threadably engaged tosaid threaded base.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS HERMAN O. JONES, Primary ExaminerU.S. Cl. X.R. 200-42

